First Things: Cannabis Hemp

Many Grandparents, and maybe you are one, have seen or been exposed to Hemp Education on some level via the US Government.

Back in the 40's the U.S. Government required a certain amount farm land to be committed to growing hemp for the war efforts. The image above that says, "Hemp for Victory," was a video put out by the Department of Agriculture, which you can find on YouTube here.

They even developed a short film educating farmers about how to grow and process hemp for textiles, ropes, garments and the like!

However, shortly after the war ended so did the drive to grow industrial hemp​n the United States.

​As a matter of fact there was a followup campaign developed by William Randolph Hearst and his cohorts to demonize the cannabis and such films as "Refer Madness" and "Assassin of Youth" were distributed to communities nationwide - and even internationally!

Because of these comical and profoundly inaccurate films the wool was pulled over the publics eyes, about the true benefit and value cannabis has to offer.

Let's Clarify - What is Hemp?

To get right to the point, hemp is the non-psychoactive variety of the cannabis sativa plant.

It's been cultivated for as long as 10,000 years and has been used across the world for centuries - for products such as food, shelter and clothing among many other items.

You cannot get high from consuming industrial hemp - no matter how much you consume, and no matter what part of the plant you consume.

That's why it's legal in over 30 industrialized nations around the world (such as Germany, France, England, Spain and Canada to name a few).

Hemp is an annual plant that grows from about 15 to 18 feet tall, depending on the type of cultivar being farmed.

If you are growing hemp for fiber uses, like rope, fabric, yarn, twine, etc, then you may want to grow a cultivar that has taller genetics.

So mention to Grandma that hemp is nothing that will alter or change your state of consciousness like its THC-rich cousin - Medical Cannabis, which we will get into shortly.

And get this, hemp may have helped save Grandpa's life or clothe him at one point - years ago...

Grandpa, Hemp May Have Covered Your Ass & Saved Your Life!

Once all that hemp was grown (about 30,000 acres a year), mainly in Kentucky and surrounding states, it was turned into fatigues, parachutes, bags, and many other war related items, like rigging on the ships and laces for Grandpa's boots!

The USS Constitution, "Old Iron Sides", had more than 60 tons of hemp rope and cordage! Not to mention all of the sailors wearing hemp fatigues as well...

It's been said that the first American flag was made from hemp, the first draft of the Declaration of Independence was on hemp paper, and it's it's been recorded that George Washington and Thomas Jefferson were hemp farmers.

Declaration of Independence on Hemp Paper

So where did the confusion and demonization of this plant come from?

Marijuana is a Dirty Word - It's Called Cannabis!

Historical Medical Uses for Cannabis

Prior to the early 1920's Medical Cannabis was used as a foundational herbal remedy in the pharmacopeia of American Doctors across the nation. It was in there medical bags, they used to travel with from patient to patience.

Doctor's did actually go to the patients' homes back in those days. And in fact they often carried bottles of Cannabis remedies for different ailments (pictured above).

​If it's been so interwoven within the fabric of humanity for centuries - then why has it been swept under the rug and made out to be the "Devil's Weed from Hell"?

Hemp & Cannabis are far from being the "Devil's Weed" or "Marihuana, Assassin of Youth".

​So why would there ever be a confusion about this plant.

Rather than going into the nitty gritty detail about this, I suggest you invest in one of the BEST BOOKS on the subject, by Cannabis Movement Pioneers, Jack Herer and Chris Conrad called, "The Emperor Wears No Clothes."

To give it to you in a nutshell, the story goes, that William Randolph Hearst, Andrew Mellon and Harry Anslinger and the rest of their cohorts amassed the biggest smear campaigns again cannabis, effectively outlawing it on a Federal Level.

The reason for this are speculative and numerous, but the most popular told reason were that hemp was a huge competitor to the oil, lumbar, and pharmaceutical industries.

And the way that Hearst was able to fool the people was to use a word that no one had heard before to refer to this plant, which was Marihuana (also spelled Marijuana).

So just know that when you use that word, you are potentially continuing the negative stigma and beliefs that have been so engrained into the minds of our Grandparents for decades.

It's time we start calling it what it is. It's Cannabis. It's an herbal solution to so many of the worlds problems - as we are seeing across the board today, in dozens of countries.

The Truth on Hemp vs Marijuana by Gatewood Galbraith

This is great way to clearly know the difference between hemp and marijuana, or medical Cannabis.

Gatewood has a wonderful way of explaining the distinction between the two aspects of the Cannabis Plant.

Final Thoughts & Suggestions

The BEST way to teach anyone anything, in my humble opinion, is to demonstrate. There's a great expression that I'm not sure who coined that goes, "demonstration beats conversation."

So if you can simply show your grandparents, parents, friends, teachers, politicians etc. all the phenomenal uses for hemp, this is the BEST way of educating them.

It's up to us to make the change we want to see in the world. And yes I realize that some hemp products can be pricey.

But if you start investing in hemp NOW, it's going to bring it closer to home, which means we will not have to import it from other countries, ultimately helping bring the cost down, as we will be saving on massive import and shipping costs.

No matter what it is that you do, if there is ONE THING that you can do to integrate hemp into your daily life or business, we can all experience the abundance, health, and prosperity we were born to live.

So if you're looking for some inspiration on how you can choose ONE THING to do with HEMP in you life, check out our FREE RESOURCE - especially good for hemp entrepreneurs that can't stay focused on doing ONE THING!

Discover some of the latest news and revisit some ancient history about Cannabis and Industrial Hemp!
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Discover more about Chris and his impactful work to raise awareness about the benefits and value of Cannabis and Hemp for FOOD | SHELTER | CLOTHING and so much more!!! www.chrisconrad.com

Hemp is one of the most exciting products on the market today. It is one of those magical plants that can be used for so many different things.

In fact, you would be hard-pressed to find any other plant as multi-functional and multi-beneficial as hemp. And I realize you likely already know this, which is why you've been so inspired to work with this plant.

Consider that hemp seed or stock is used in clothing, rope, oil, nutrient supplements, food … not to mention all the medical and textile uses that abound today with industrial hemp!

The most exciting thing about hemp, from a business perspective, is there are so many ways to get involved in its education, manufacture, distribution, production, and/or sale.

The market is open and the opportunities to make a business with hemp are plentiful.So, if you are looking to start a new business, working with hemp is a land of opportunity.

But if you’re reading this, you probably already know how exciting hemp is as a potential business venture – and perhaps you have already begun a business with it.

First I want to affirm that, that’s great ~ and I commend you!

You’re carving a positive path for the future of humanity!We need more people to be aware of this durable wonder-plant because it is invariably essential for our planet, and not to mention crucial for our individual health. ​

Slowly the general population is waking up to the fact that hemp products are some of the best in the world in terms of sustainability, in manufacture, quality of production, and impact on personal health.

So instead of preaching to the choir, let’s take a look at some ways to help your hemp business grow or help you get started with a NEW Hemp Business:

What Is Your Hemp Passion?

Given all the options you could choose with regard to hemp, it can be a little overwhelming on where to begin.But consider the three main parts of the hemp plant that supply the specific hemp industries: fiber, seed and flowers.

Don’t worry so much about market volatility or potential market growth – focus more on what you are passionate about, and form your business around that.

If clothing and textiles is something you have loved for years, then focus on the manufacture and sale of hemp based clothing.

The great thing about hemp is that, from an economics point of view, there is so much demand it’s hard to pick the wrong area of specialization.

Focus On One Product, and Make It Affordable.

No business can succeed if it has multiple competing goals.

If you are involved in the manufacturing of hemp products for sale on the market, you have to decide in the early stages of your business plan what kind of product you want sell. Best advice? Pick one that you are most passionate about, and stick with it.

That’s the advice Shaun Bailey - a hemp expert featured in ‘Growing Hemp for Profit’ - gives to those aspiring for notoriety in the world of hemp.

If you make hemp oil products and seeds, for instance, try cutting down to just hemp oil.

Your passion and knowledge for all things hemp oil will help you develop a brand that really speaks to people – as long as it’s affordable.

Part of the challenge with converting new customers to hemp is how expense it seems to be – so make sure not to price people out of your product just because it’s a ‘speciality’ item.

To new customers, all hemp products are ‘speciality’ items!

Collaborate with an E-Commerce Site or Go Your Own Way.

If your business is in the manufacture and sale of hemp based products, you need to be looking at your digital platforms every day.

Building up your digital presence takes a lot of research and strategic planning, especially if you decide to build up your own e-commerce site.

Social media can go a long way in developing your brand and expanding your reach.

You need to isolate your niche and then work hard to dominate it with a consistent stream of fresh and exciting products and content!

If done correctly, designing and managing your own hemp webstore can be the spark in the engine that drives your business up a notch.

Link Up with Wall Street.

This might not be an option for every small business, but it is a promising sign of things to come.Consider Seed CX, a digital commodity hub that offers hemp farmers a variety of seed types.

Getting involved in the exchange of hemp on the open market is a great way to give your business some exposure and to take part in the general strengthening of the hemp industry.

It’s important to note that Wall Street is also open to manufacturing companies that want to be publicly traded.

While any shift of this nature comes with obvious challenges, a number of companies producing hemp clothing and hemp food items have made the transition and seen positive growth.

It might be the right option for you!

Study What Works and Improve Upon It.

Are you surprised we have not mentioned hard work yet?

We know how much work goes into running a business, but we also know you would not do it if you didn’t love it.

It’s imperative that you analyze the impact of the work you’re doing and see what is most effected.

​Then simply discard what’s not working and focus on refining the things that do.

Dealing with the Stereotypes

Due to hemp’s relationship with medical cannabis, there are some long-time engrained negative stereotypes in humanity's psyche which make many many people still skeptical of this plants overall amazingness and benefit.

This is one of the biggest challenges that hemp entrepreneurs and hemp business owners are dealing with today.

How to Educate the Public and Your Prospects about the Truth.

Will smoking hemp make you high? Of course not.​You know this but so many still don't know.

Does it smell bad? No. In fact it smells very nice.

It should be easy to dispel the rumors, but it’s only been since 2014 that the Federal government even allows the farming of hemp (only in certain forms, and only for research under the auspices of the Industrial Hemp Farm Bill).

The best way to get over negative stereotyping of hemp is through education and successful product design.That’s our job as business people.

It really is simple. Do you know how to take a knife out of a babies hand? You replace it with something else. You give them a toy or food or something like that.

You don't want to try ripping it out of their hand, just as you don't want to try ripping a belief out of someone's mind. It MUST be replaced with a new belief in order to be gotten rid of.

In other words, through the repetition of SHOWING people "what hemp IS," we will soon replace the negative, false belief what it is not.

For instance, people don’t realize hemp is an ancient commodity grown by the Chinese as far back as 2800 BC.

The ancient Chinese knew, and to this day know, how strong hemp fiber is for all types of textile work, including rope-making and other woven applications.

The Ancient Chinese also enjoyed hemp seeds for their nutritious properties: the seeds contain approximately 30 percent oil and contain protein (amino acids), magnesium other minerals, and fibre.

Europeans and Americans are slowly waking up to the realization that hemp has these properties and history, but it’s up to businesses like yours to keep the hemp education.

We are the one's we've been waiting for, and it's people like you, who have a passion and purpose to make a difference on this planet that actually will.

One more Bonus: Story Telling

And one last thing I didn't mention - as a bonus - that I feel is just as essential as the previous 5 ways to grow your hemp business, is knowing how to 'tell your story."

Learn the art of storytelling. The secret to story telling is knowing you audience. Engage them on a deep level right from the start. Be vivid with your words, and get them to FEEL something.

Yes there are different techniques you can learn, which is good. But the main thing is to learn how to tell stories. Also on that point, learn how to tell your story depending on the platform you're on.

You can tell a story in 120 characters on Twitter, or even tell a good story with a simple square image on Instagram.

Conclusion

Hopefully one (or all) of these suggestions can help grow your hemp business.

It’s imperative that smart business decisions are made in the early years of a company to ensure long-term stability. This is especially true with hemp because it’s potential for growth is so huge!

If you require further assistance with your marketing or branding to get your message and products out to the world, we're on a MISSION to help make your vision come to fruition.

STEP 1: WHY

Your WHY has to do with your purpose, and it's NOT to make money. That is simply a by-product of what you do to bring value to your customers.

STEP 2: WHAT

Ask yourself these questions to identify and clarify your WHAT:

What excited you?

What is your Ex.T.R.A.?

Expertise

Talents

Resources

Abilities

What product/category do you know most about?

What aspects of you business would you need to outsource of hire for?

STEP 3: WHO

WHO is your Ideal Prospect? It's one thing to identify the people that may currently purchase from you or that might, but more importantly is identifying your IDEAL CUSTOMER.

You don't want to wake up each day thinking about how you don't like the customers you are serving. It's crucial to not only LOVE what you do, but LOVE the people you serve.

So create a list of characteristics that your ideal customer has. And of course you can go into extensive detail on this by creating your Customer Avatar, which you can learn a lost more about on this great article by DigitalMarketer here.

STEP 4: HOW

What is your Marketing Strategy for bringing your product/service to your ideal marketplace?

Are you going to market online/offline?

What is the ideal social media platform for your product/service?

Will you be doing live events or webinars to sell your products?

Will you be offering B2B or B2C?

How will you differentiate yourself from similar companies in your market?

Having a plan of action is crucial for every aspect of your hemp business.

How much money do you want to be making?

​How will you plan out your content creation, product development, and supporting your customers to get the results they want and need?

STEP 5: WHEN

The time is NOW. Now is all we have. And the hemp industry is still in its embryo stages!

More and more people are seeing through the demonization and disinformation, so be on the TOP of the wave that is about to sweep the nation and ultimately the world!